Sporting KC declines latest offer for Palmer-Brown

Sporting KC technical director Peter Vermes confirmed Juventus has twice re-upped its initial January offer for homegrown player Erik Palmer-Brown, and Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman indicated on his Twitter account that Juventus has traveled to Orlando to watch Palmer-Brown in the preseason. But the two sides have not reached an agreement, and no deal is imminent.

Sporting Kansas City remains firm in its plans to develop homegrown product Erik Palmer-Brown, but Italian club Juventus isn’t giving up its pursuit of the 16-year-old defender.

Sporting KC technical director Peter Vermes confirmed Juventus has twice re-upped its initial January offer for Palmer-Brown, and Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman indicated on his Twitter account that Juventus has traveled to Orlando to watch Palmer-Brown in the preseason.

But the two sides have not reached an agreement, and no deal is imminent.

“It’s just not something that we’re willing to entertain,” Vermes said. “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again — we haven’t had the intention to sell the player. It would take quite a bit for us to sell him at the moment.”

Palmer-Brown became the youngest player in Major League Soccer when he signed with Sporting KC last August as a homegrown player. He joined the United States under-18 national team for the Copa del Atlantico tournament in Spain earlier this month and started three matches.

Palmer-Brown, who attends O’Hara High School, has been a member of Sporting Academy since June 2009.

“We see the potential he has with our club,” Vermes said. “…He’s been developed by us. In doing that, he has incredible potential and we see that. So at the moment, we’ve declined all offers.”